A young fan has been banned by UEFA from attending the rest of Euro 2024 after he breached security to snap a photo with Cristiano Ronaldo during the Portugal vs. Türkiye match.
C. Ronaldo smiled friendly and took a selfie with a young fan who broke into the stadium. Photo: AP
The match between Portugal and Türkiye in Group F of Euro 2024 on June 22 had a security incident when a young fan entered the field and approached C. Ronaldo to ask for a photo. The Portuguese superstar was friendly, hugged the boy and smiled, posing for a selfie. The fan was later caught by security forces and taken off the field. However, the image of Ronaldo and the young fan later spread widely on social media.
UEFA said that such pitch invasions would not be tolerated as they could have serious consequences. European football’s governing body decided to ban the boy from the remaining matches of Euro 2024.
“Any trespassing is a breach of the rules and will result in expulsion from the stadium and a ban from all matches of the competition. Children under 12 are not criminally responsible but the accompanying adult must ensure that the child complies with the stadium rules,” the Express quoted UEFA’s statement on the incident.
According to reports, up to 5 fans tried to break into the pitch during the second half of the match between Portugal and Turkey. All wanted to get close to take pictures with C. Ronaldo . This made coach Roberto Martinez worried about the safety of the players. UEFA pledged to increase security measures to prevent similar incidents.
